Improvement in leather-stretching frames



c. P". ouvaRJ Leather Stretching Frames.

Patented Feb. 11,1873;

WINEIS'S'ES,

AM. PHOT0UTHOGRAPHIO ca wwssomvz mums;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P.'OLIVER7 OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF IIISRIGHT TO THEODORE I. HOWELL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEATHER-STRETCHING FRAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,536, dated February11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. OLIVER, of

Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented anew and valuable Improvement in Leather-Stretching Frames; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a top view of my machine.Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same. I i gs. 3, 4, and 5are details of the same.-

My invention relates to machines for stretchin g hides and leather; andconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of the lever-jointand wrench hereinafter described, and applied to the stretching-frame asshown.

A of the drawing represents the upper and B the lower cross-bar of mystretching-frame, and the letters 0 indicate the sides thereof. On thefront sides of the bars 0, or upon the sides of such bars, I affixperforated plates, marked to. These perforated plates are adapted foruse upon wooden upright bars; but in case such bars be made of metal,the plates may be dispensed with, and the bars themselves be perforated.The cross-bar A is constructed with a rounded upper surface, to adapt itfor holding the center of the hide, inasmuch as my apparatus is designedfor attaching both flanks or sides of the hide to the sliding bar D. Theletter D represents the sliding or stretching bar, which is arrangedwith reference to the bars A and O in the manner shown. The letter '0indicates the short arm of a joint attachedto the sliding bar D, and theletterf indicates the long arm I thereof attached to the bar B, eachconnection being made witha suitable pivot-pin or hinge. These two armsof my joint are united by a tongue-and-groove joint, as shown on Fig. 2of the drawing. It will be observed that the end of the sliding bar D isslotted to provide for holding the fore arm of the joint and allow themovements thereof. The letter y indicates a quadrangular wrist firmlyattached to the short arm of the joint. I prefer'to cast this arm andwrist in one piece of metal. The letter H represents a wrench, the headof which is adapted to fit upon the wrist y.

To operate my device, I tack the moist hide to the sides of bar D,allowing the center thereof to rest upon the oval upper surface of barA, and place the wrench-head upon the wrist y. I then turn the wrenchdownward, bringing the two arms of the joint toward or beyond a rightangle, thereby increasing the distance between the bars A and D. When Ifind the skin is suficiently stretched, I place a pin above the bar D inone of the apertures of the perforated plate, and permit the skin todry, or be manipulated, as the operator may see fit.

It is apparent that my joint would only be partially effective ifattached to one end of the bar D only; I therefore connect such a jointwith each end of said bar, together with a perforated plate upon each ofthe side bars of the frame.

My device possesses the merit of unusual simplicity and cheapness ofconstruction, and also is susceptible of operation without removing theframe from its pendent position from the supporting-bars.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The leather stretching frame herein described, having bars A and D,levers c and f, wrist y, perforated plate a, and wrench H,

constructed and arranged substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. P. OLIVER.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. UPHAM, D. D. KANE.

